Obama's blog surge, thoughts on Lent, and more

Obama wins UU blog primary

At last, something almost all Unitarian Universalist bloggers can agree on: Barack Obama's campaign for president! Over twenty UU bloggers posted praise for Obama in the days surrounding Super Tuesday.

As Chutney at "Making Chutney" asks, "Why Are So Many UUs for Obama?" (February 3, 2008). The Rev. Sean Parker Dennison at "ministrare" answers: "Because he is the first candidate since I've been of voting age to embody intelligence, inspiration, and integrity" (February 4, 2008).

At the end of a three-part series comparing Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, Jess of "Jess's Journal" concludes in Obama's favor: "Obama sees the Presidency as an opportunity to bring people together to make this country what it ought to be, to give the government back to the people, to create solutions with the input of the people they will effect most" (February 3 2008).

But Joel Monka at "CUUMBAYA" argues that Unitarian Universalists are overly focused on the presidential race, at the expense of statewide and local contests that are "more important" (February 4, 2008). And Earthbound Spirit worries that liberal religion is in danger of being too politicized. She argues that liberal religious preachers should have a message that is "prophetic" rather than "political" (February 4, 2008).

Ashes to ashes?

Lent began with Ash Wednesday on February 6, and two Unitarian Universalist bloggers are discussing the place of this season in contemporary Unitarian Universalism.

Plaid Shoes at "Everyday Unitarian" suggests that Unitarian Universalists can appreciate Lent as a time for introspection: "I would challenge each of you to take these next forty days to develop your own faith statements and start spring with a renewed Spirit!" (February 5, 2008).

The Real Anonymous, at "it's 5 o'clock somewhere," values Lent for a different reason (February 5, 2008):

There are not many times during a year that UUs are asked to SACRIFICE anything, if they're asked to at all. Lent is all about sacrifice and what that sacrifice means. And I think that's a lost virtue and one that UUs need to recover.

Children and race

John Pageless at "The Pageless Book" and Lizard Eater at "The Journey" offer contrasting understandings of how children deal with race.

John recounts an experience from his own childhood (February 5, 2008):

I accused a black child of drinking my beverage when I wasn't looking. My so-called proof was the swirling of my own saliva in my cup. I believed, at that time, that what I was looking at was his 'blackness' that had come off from his skin. When I told an adult, I felt the squirming warmth of revenge uncoil in my heart and was satisfied that justice had been done.

John uses this story to illustrate that personal racism is virulent and that the "struggle" against it is a life-long process.

Lizard Eater tells a different story. Her 8-year-old daughter recognizes differences in skin color and has been teased by other children for having a black friend. Yet, Lizard Eater writes, her daughter is "race-blind" (February 5, 2008).

Kindness in congregational life

On the subject of congregational life, the Rev. James Ford of "Monkey Mind" reminds readers that everyday kindness between congregants is essential (February 6, 2008):

Someone once observed, "The loneliest hour she ever spent was the coffee hour following worship services." I'm haunted and distressed by this. It should never be. A genuine and lively church is built upon the friendly touch and kind word.

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